We have a 9 year old, people. That’s right. No longer a child, not yet a teen.
A ‘tween.
Pre-teen.
Post-I can carry her up the stairs
Smack-dab-in-the-middle-of-a DESPERATE need for independence and a DESPERATE need for coddling.
Oh wait. That’s nothing new.
Anyway, we’re here and I have mixed emotions about it all. I blubber at the dinner table when I think of how grown up she sounds and the next minute I’m throwing my hands up in the air with a “hallelujah!” that I can use rational arguments and actually get through every once in a while.
It’s all got me thinking about what I want for the next 9 years she’s in our home.
What skills do I want her to have when she goes out on her own? What experiences do I hope to provide? How will she explore her gifts? What kind of a relationship do I want to have with her through these pre-teen and teen years?
These are things I’m thinking about now that I have a ‘tween. They are the same kinds of things I was thinking about 5 years ago when Aaron and I sat down to set goals for what we wanted for our family. We thought about our kids, our marriage, our individual goals and our vision for our family and we set out on a journey toward them. Every few months we revisited our goals to consider how we’d moved toward them and what steps we wanted to take in the next few months. And by golly, we got here!
I don’t have any promise for the future, but I do know that I don’t want to float to Amelia’s graduation day and be carried by the winds of the status quo, wherever they blow. I want to set a sail, catch those winds and creatively move toward the goals that mean something to us.
Right now I’m working on a special offering
(yes…I’m still working on the book! But no, it’s not that). There’s an elaborate plan hatching in my mind. It’s something that would help creative kids grow in their self-confidence, social skills, trust of their parents, and so much more. But I need your perspective.
If you’re a mom of a ‘tween daughter, would you be willing to share your perspective with me in a 10 question survey?
Your response could effect many other moms and daughters (including me!). And you might enjoy thinking through the questions as many others have already. The first three of the 10 questions are:
- What is your favorite part about parenting your pre-teen in this stage of her life?
- Why do you classify your daughter as creative?
- What 3 qualities do you see in your daughter that make you proud of her?
I would love to hear from you and all of your friends! Please share this. I will compile the results and email them to the people who fill it out. You never know how your voice might impact others – even through a simple survey!